“More spacious than the Astra hatchback, the Sports Tourer ends up being a jack-of-all-trades, master of none”
Verdict – is the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer a good car?
The Vauxhall Astra has long played second fiddle to desirable rivals like the Volkswagen Golf, while the Ford Focus has been a touch better to drive. However, for this latest generation, the Astra looks handsome, and the driving experience is pretty sharp, too. The Sports Tourer estate offers almost 600 litres of boot space, while a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains means there’s a version to suit most buyers.
Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer models, specs and alternatives
Vauxhall is currently riding a wave of success; the Vauxhall Corsa became the UK’s best-selling car in 2021, beating out the long-reigning title holder, the Ford Fiesta. Of course, while the Corsa is a long-standing staple of the British marque’s lineup, another mainstay is the larger Vauxhall Astra family hatchback.
The eighth generation Vauxhall Astra made its debut in 2021 to a lot of fanfare, much in part to its revolutionary design for the brand and impressive technology. At launch, the new model was only available as a traditional five-door hatchback bodystyle; however, Vauxhall have now introduced another option.
Dubbed the Astra Sports Tourer, this new model features the same stylish looks as the Astra hatchback, but in a much more practical estate form factor. The wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) has grown by 57mm; furthermore, just like a certain family of reality TV stars, the Astra’s rear end has received a bit of cosmetic surgery, resulting in a much larger boot than in the hatch. Although, with 598 litres on offer, the Skoda Octavia Estate will still provide more cargo room with its 640-litre boot.
Buyers can configure their Sports Tourer in two trim levels: Design and GS – the range-topping Ultimate is currently limited to the hatchback All models come well equipped, however, with standard kit such as sat-nav, front-and-rear parking sensors, lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking (AEB). GS Line cars get a sportier bodykit, dual-zone climate control and a 360-degree camera system. For keen drivers, there’s also the GSe version, which is the fastest Sports Tourer thanks to a more potent PHEV powertrain and upgraded chassis.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference between the Sports Tourer and the hatchback. However, this is no bad thing as the Astra has a stylish interior, if not quite as premium-feeling as rivals. The standard dual 10-inch screens in the front go a long way to making the new car feel hi-tech, while the estate’s longer wheelbase grants slightly more legroom for taller rear passengers.
Vauxhall has attempted to make the Astra feel sportier than the Peugeot 308 SW with which it shares its underpinnings. While the Sports Tourer is not quite as fun to drive as a SEAT Leon Estate, its stiffened suspension and tightened steering setup means it feels much sharper through turns than the Peugeot – however, it isn’t quite as refined on longer motorway journeys. The GSe turns this up a notch further, but sits in a rather small niche, being a quick-ish small estate instead of a proper performance car.
The Astra Sports Tourer’s engine lineup mirrors that of the hatchback, with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid variants on offer. The former will appeal to private buyers; we recommend the higher-powered 1.2-litre petrol here, to balance the Sports Tourer’s added bulk. The plug-in hybrid will be the choice for company car drivers, however, with its 42-mile electric range and low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax ratings.
MPG, running costs & CO2
“With a range of efficient powertrains, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer should be frugal to run”
In order for it to stand out amongst rivals, Vauxhall has tried to price the Astra Sports Tourer competitively; it comes in almost £1,000 cheaper than the equivalent Peugeot 308 SW. This will increase the Vauxhall’s appeal amongst private buyers, however, it will likely be an insignificant saving when it comes to monthly PCP payments, depending on the deals that are available.
As with the Peugeot, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is available with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power. The entry-level 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol should be frugal enough for most buyers; Vauxhall claims it should return around 50mpg and emits up to 127g/km of CO2. Buyers that specify the more powerful petrol unit will see similar figures, despite the extra punch from the engine.
If you are expecting to travel long distances frequently, then the 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine will likely be the shrewdest option. This can return up to 60mpg and has CO2 emissions of around 122g/km. However, given its higher price tag over the petrol, this powertrain is somewhat of a niche choice.
Finally, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model is our top pick for company car drivers. This uses a petrol engine alongside an electric motor to return up to 256mpg, provided you keep the battery charged up. Speaking of which, this 12.4kWh unit provides a pure-electric range of up to 42 miles, dropping slightly to 39 miles for the GSe version. Recharging at a 7kW home box will take three hours, while a standard 3-pin plug will charge the car in around seven.
The main benefit of the Sports Tourer PHEV is its low CO2 emissions of just 25g/km. This results in low Benefit-in-Kind ratings, helping keep bills low. Unfortunately, however, the 39-mile range of the GSe means it sits in a slightly higher BiK band than the regular PHEV. All Astra models sit below the £40,000 VED threshold for car tax, meaning that buyers of petrol and diesel cars will pay the standard rate; the plug-in hybrid gets a slight discount.
Engines, drive & performance
“The Astra Sports Tourer drives well, but is let down by a rather gutless range of engines”
While the standard version is by no means a hot estate car like the Cupra Leon Estate, the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is fairly enjoyable to drive. It shares many of its parts with the Peugeot 308 and DS 4, however, Vauxhall has tinkered around with the Astra’s suspension setup to make it a bit sportier.
Through corners the Astra remains composed and suffers from little body roll. While the steering can feel a bit disconnected from the road at times, it is nicely weighted, but not to the point that it feels cumbersome.
The Sports Tourer’s petrol engine range comprises a single 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged unit in two states of tune. The entry-level model produces 108bhp and can do 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds. For around an extra £500, the more powerful variant outputs 128bhp and reaches 62mph 0.8 seconds faster. While this may not seem like much of a difference, the extra punch makes the Astra feel a lot more at home on places like the motorway. Both come as standard with a six-speed manual transmission; the 128bhp model can also be specified with a smooth eight-speed automatic.
There is only one diesel configuration available: a 1.5-litre four-cylinder with 128bhp. This can only be optioned with the eight-speed automatic gearbox and takes a leisurely eleven seconds to reach 62mph. However, thanks to plenty of torque low down in the rev range, it feels nippy when setting off from a standstill.
The plug-in hybrids are the most powerful versions of the Astra Sports Tourer currently available. The standard version uses a 1.6-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, alongside an electric motor to produce 178bhp. Getting from 0-62mph takes just 9.2 seconds; however, the added weight from the electric motor and batteries means the PHEV does not quite feel as spry as its petrol and diesel counterparts.
Vauxhall has also made the decision to use a PHEV powertrain in its hottest GSe-badged version, albeit now with 222bhp sent to the front wheels. This makes it respectably quick in a straight line, with 0-62mph coming up in just 7.6 seconds. However, the GSe’s main issue is weight – its electric motor and battery pack all add up, and the result is a small estate weighing around 1,750kg. That’s around the same weight as a seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq SUV, and the Astra doesn’t feel overly engaging along a twisting route as a result.
Interior & comfort
“The Vauxhall Astra has a smart, tech-filled interior, but rivals feel much plusher”
The latest Astra Sports Tourer is a big step up from the old model in terms of interior design. While not quite as distinctive as the cabin in the Peugeot 308, the Astra’s interior feels more ergonomic and has a much more comfortable driving position. Unfortunately, however, the Vauxhall can’t quite match its French rival in terms of interior quality; while the steering wheel and other frequent touch points feel relatively premium, there are several cheap-looking pieces of trim scattered about.
When you step inside, the first thing you’ll notice is the two 10-inch displays that are mounted on top of the dashboard. These act as the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen and come as standard on all models. Both are highly configurable and easy to use; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come pre-loaded if you’d prefer to use your phone’s operating system over Vauxhall’s.
Where the Astra lags behind in the quality department, it remains strong in terms of standard equipment. At launch, there are two models to choose from: Design and GS. The range kicks off with the Design trim; this comes with most of the kit you’d need such as 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, sat-nav, air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking.
The GS model is only available with the more-powerful petrol engine, as well as the diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. On top of what is offered by Design trim, GS cars get sporty black exterior details with 17-inch black alloy wheels. The GS equipment list also includes a set of heated sport seats, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.
A Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer GSe trim offers an even more sporting feel, thanks to a unique exterior makeover and set of alloy wheels, along with adaptive cruise control and Vauxhall’s IntelliLux adaptive headlights. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay also mean there’s no need for untidy USB cables.
Practicality & boot space
“The Astra Sports Tourer is more practical than the hatchback, but not quite as spacious as rivals”
One of the drawbacks of the Vauxhall Astra hatchback are its relatively tight rear seats; adults sitting in the rear of that car quickly find that legroom is at a premium and their knees are digging into the seats in front. So, with the Sports Tourer’s longer wheelbase, has Vauxhall managed to rectify this issue?
In summary: yes and no. The increase in the car’s overall length hasn’t had as much of a drastic change as you might expect; however, there is now slightly more legroom in the rear. Nevertheless, if you intend to carry adults in the back frequently, you’re better off looking at something like a Volkswagen Golf Estate as headroom is tight for passengers over 6ft tall.
As for boot space, the Sports Tourer is much more practical than the hatchback. With 597 litres on offer, the estate’s boot is 177 litres larger than the standard Astra’s. However, compared with the likes of the 640-litre boot of the Skoda Octavia Estate, the Astra is only average for this class. Pick the plug-in hybrid model and cargo volume drops from 597 litres to 516 litres – less than you’ll find in the similarly-named Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. The rear seats can be folded in a 40:20:40 split, however, opening up a cavernous 1,634 litres of room.
Reliability & safety
“Vauxhall has fitted the Astra Sports Tourer with most of the modern safety features you’d come to expect”
Vauxhall doesn’t have a squeaky-clean record when it comes to reliability, however, the brand’s recent partnership with Peugeot and Citroen under the Stellantis name should hopefully bring about more consistency in terms of build quality and reliability.
This can already be seen in Vauxhall’s performance in our 2022 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey; the British marque placed 17th out of 29 manufacturers – an improvement of five places over the previous year. The latest Astra is too new to have featured in the survey, but its smaller sibling, the Corsa, placed a middling 42nd out of 75 cars.
The Astra and its mechanical twin, the Peugeot 308, both achieved four stars on the latest Euro NCAP safety test. The Astra scored 80% and 82% respectively for adult and child protection, only missing out on the coveted fifth star due to the lack of some safety features.
Regardless, all versions of the Astra Sports Tourer come fitted with lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and hill-start assist. Higher-end models also get traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning and 360-degree camera systems.
Keyword: Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer estate review